His beloved Wests Tigers may have been beaten but in the eyes of Chris Curran, his heroes were all winners.

Eighteen-year-old Chris was invited by Wests Tigers Coach Tim Sheens to join the team in the dressing room after the game against the Gold Coast Titans at Skilled Stadium on August 29.

Sheens acted upon a letter from Mermaid Beach resident David Wilson, who sent a letter to the club about his nephew, who spent his 18th birthday in a coma after being injured in a car accident in Toowoomba whilst he was a passenger.

"Chris had been in a coma for over a month and spent time in the Brain Injury Recovery Unit at the Princess Alexander Hospital in Brisbane,'' David wrote.

"His recovery has and will be slow. His mother was told to turn off the life support about a week after the accident. Thank God they didn't.

"Chris is a mad keen Wests Tigers supporter, even to the point of cheering for New Zealand when Benji played and for NSW when Robbie was playing for the Blues.

"He has been a supporter since he has followed the game. His hospital room was full of Wests Tigers gear and he never let the nursing staff, visitors and family forget he is a Tigers fan."

David asked if it was possible for Benji Marshall and Robbie Farah to take time out to meet Chris.

Sheens went one better and arranged for the players to all meet Chris and sign his jersey following the loss to the Titans.

"Chris has certainly had a tough time of late, so giving him the chance to meet the players was the least we could do,'' Sheens said.

"We all wish Chris a speedy recovery.''

In a thank you letter to the Wests Tigers, David said his nephew was blown away by the kindness of the club.

"Thank you to Tim and all at the Wests Tigers for making Chris' day at the footy so enjoyable,'' David said.

"He didn't get to bed until after midnight after watching the photographs on the moving picture frame we have for him.

"I wish the club all the best for 2010."

Wayne Cousins
Media & Communications Officer
Wests Tigers Rugby League Football Pty Ltd